Chasing storms with Alicia Hardimon
Alicia Hardimon has a unique job, one that most will only experience watching blockbuster films like “Twister,” “Storm Chaser,” or “Super Cell.” Being willing to drive into the heart of an oncoming twister or tornado takes an incredible amount of courage, and it’s what Hardimon does for a living.
Hardimon’s storm-chasing crew, the United National Weather Team, provides services across the country. Launching her business in 2022, the daring entrepreneur now employs 29 equally daring people to help educate and provide community outreach and disaster relief to those affected by major weather occurrences. Here she shares her incredible storm-chasing business with us.
MSR: What inspired you to launch/start your business?
AH: I was inspired after seeing the destruction of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Minneapolis tornado.
MSR: How does your business impact the community?
AH: We have many storm chasers and forecasters helping to localize weather and also humanize the long-term effects and damages. We try to get out early warnings as well as help rebuild communities.
MSR: What would you consider your main service or product?
AH: Our most requested service is forecasting and consulting for businesses. People want to know if their events will be canceled or if they can make it to work the next day.
MSR: What has been your biggest challenge in owning a business?
AH: So far it’s been funding and community involvement. Trying to channel my passion to others in the community to want to take charge during disasters. No one knows their community better than them. They can service it with a unique outlook rather than the one-size-fits-all we see most often from governmental organizations.
MSR: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?
AH: The most rewarding part is seeing people reunited after storms, being rescued, getting services and supplies to build their lives back, and the confidence it brings. As well as watching storm chasers and those in the weather community grow in their skills and fellowship.
MSR: What’s your vision/goals for your business? What does success look like for
you?
AH: My vision for my business is to get funding for research purposes, as well as be able to retain a full-time staff to help tell the stories of people in Minnesota and all over the country. I want to fund our 501(c)(3) venture for a rescue and recovery group that helps rebuild houses and helps them with resources until people in those communities can be trained.
I’d like to get a curriculum for children done so we can educate kids on weather and climate and how they can help and make a difference. It would also increase potential STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] students, especially those of color who are vastly underrepresented in meteorology and other STEM-related fields.
Success to me looks like groups for the United National Weather Team in all 50 states, a network of professionals putting out forecasts and chasers doing scientific research fully funded with a rescue and recovery squad with full-time semi-drivers who can drive supplies to wherever they’re needed most with a full-time chasing staff devoted to cover the most devastating storms up close.
MSR: What got you into storm chasing and what are some of the challenges you
see ahead with it?
AH: Journalism got me into storm chasing, actually; I embedded myself in the Cajun Navy for an undercover story, became a dispatcher, and helped people get rescued.
I never wrote the story and I never left the storm-chasing. The need is too great, and organizations like FEMA aren’t designed for disaster recovery in the way communities need to be treated.
MSR: What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
AH: Never give up. Keep trying even if everyone around you thinks you are crazy. Start small but think big and take risks you think twice about but don’t be afraid to innovate.
For more info, visit UNWT.org, Facebook page @UnitedNationalWeatherTeam, or email info@unwt.org.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.